Which term describes unwanted changes in an ECG tracing caused by movement or machine malfunction?

Which term describes unwanted changes in an ECG tracing caused by movement or machine malfunction?

• A. Baseline
• B. Artifact
• C. AV node
• D. Amplifier

Answer: (B)

Unwanted changes in an ECG tracing caused by movement or machine malfunction are called artifacts. Artifacts are extraneous signals added to the recording that do not come from the heart’s electrical activity. They can arise from patient movement, loose or poorly attached leads, skin-electrode issues, or electrical interference from the surroundings or the equipment. These disturbances can create spurious spikes, extra deflections, or baseline wandering that may mimic or obscure real rhythm abnormalities, so recognizing and addressing artifacts is key to obtaining an accurate reading—secure leads, clean skin, and proper machine settings help minimize them. Baseline refers to the reference level on the tracing and, when it drifts, that drift is itself a type of artifact but not the general term for movement- or machine-related disturbance. The AV node is part of the heart’s conduction pathway, not a disturbance on the tracing. The amplifier is the device that boosts the signal, not the source of the unwanted changes.

Unwanted changes in an ECG tracing caused by movement or machine malfunction are called artifacts. Artifacts are extraneous signals added to the recording that do not come from the heart’s electrical activity. They can arise from patient movement, loose or poorly attached leads, skin-electrode issues, or electrical interference from the surroundings or the equipment. These disturbances can create spurious spikes, extra deflections, or baseline wandering that may mimic or obscure real rhythm abnormalities, so recognizing and addressing artifacts is key to obtaining an accurate reading—secure leads, clean skin, and proper machine settings help minimize them.

Baseline refers to the reference level on the tracing and, when it drifts, that drift is itself a type of artifact but not the general term for movement- or machine-related disturbance. The AV node is part of the heart’s conduction pathway, not a disturbance on the tracing. The amplifier is the device that boosts the signal, not the source of the unwanted changes.